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Choplifter HD

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Choplifter HD
Promotional art
Developer(s)inXile Entertainment
Publisher(s)inXile Entertainment
Konami (Xbox 360)[1]
SeriesChoplifter
EngineUnreal Engine 3[2]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360,[1] Ouya, Android
Release
January 10, 2012
  • Windows
    • PAL: January 10, 2012 (PC)
    • NA: January 11, 2012 (PC)
    PlayStation 3
    • NA: January 10, 2012
    • PAL: February 29, 2012 (PS3)
    Xbox 360
    January 11, 2012
    Ouya
    August 27, 2013
    Android
    October 11, 2013
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Choplifter HD is a video game developed by inXile Entertainment and released in 2012-2013. It is a 3D polygonal remake of the 1982 game Choplifter by Dan Gorlin. inXile hired Gorlin to serve as a design consultant for the game.[3] As in the original game, players fly missions in a helicopter, defeating enemies and rescuing people. Originally released for Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game was subsequently ported to the Ouya as well as Android devices. Choplifter HD was lauded for being true to the original, retaining the gameplay the series was known for, but was criticized for its high level of difficulty.

Gameplay

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Players take the role of a helicopter pilot for an elite rescue squad called Coordinated Helicopter Operations, Preservation and Rescue (C.H.O.P.R.)[4] The game retains the same basic objectives as the original Choplifter, including the basic side-scrolling gameplay, only now with 3D polygonal graphics. Choplifter HD features 3 main campaigns and 30 different missions, as well as a tutorial level.[1] The player completes missions by piloting the helicopter into hostile territory while evading or destroying enemies and dealing with the helicopter's depleting fuel supply by refilling at either the copter's home base of fuel depots scattered around the level. Missions normally involve picking up and dropping up various passengers. new features were added such as dying passengers who have a timer associated with them as well as zombie enemies. Levels now have enemies in the foreground that can only be defeated by facing in their direction. Players can also unlock improved helicopters by collecting stars in each mission. Three difficulty modes are available, with the harder difficulty modes making enemies harder to defeat and the copter's fuel deplete faster.[5]

Development

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The game was announced in March 2011 for release on PlayStation 3 (via the PlayStation Network) and Windows.[6] An Xbox Live Arcade release was subsequently confirmed that following June.[3] inXile founder Brian Fargo was a fan of the first Choplifter, having played the original game on the Apple II.[6] The original game's designer, Dan Gorlin served as a design consultant on Choplifter HD and Fargo credited Gorlin with contributions such as "connect(ing) the pilot to the rescued hostages in a meaningful way".

Originally slated for a release in Fall 2011, the game was pushed back for a winter release with Konami signing on to release the Xbox Live Arcade version.[7]

Reception

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Choplifter HD received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8][9][10] The game was credited with being faithful to the original, with Destructoid's Maurice Tan commenting that "the core gameplay of Dan Gorlin's classic Apple II title remains largely intact in this HD revisiting"[5] and GameSpot's Sean Evans writing that the remake "retains the core gameplay for which the series is known". However, the game was criticized for its difficulty, particularly the unrelenting incoming fire from enemies, which Ryan Winterhalter of 1Up.com compared to that of a bullet hell shooter.[11] Evans opined that players "will eventually hit a wall with the difficulty that robs you of all desire to continue", while Winterhalter called Choplifter HD "the ideal game for perfectionists with a flair for self-flagellation".[12][11] Despite this, some reviewers found that the difficulty added to the game's enjoyment, with Christian Donlan of Eurogamer calling it "pleasantly punishing" and Mitch Dyer of IGN commenting that "frustrations are rare in Choplifter HD because its constant concern is that you're having a good time".[2][13][14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Carsillo, Ray (January 18, 2012). "EGM Review: Choplifter HD (X360)". EGMNow. EGM Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Donlan, Christian (January 12, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Dutton, Fred (June 1, 2011). "Choplifter HD Confirmed for XBLA". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Thorsen, Tor (March 28, 2011). "Choplifter HD landing on PS3, PC this fall". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Tan, Maurice (January 11, 2012). "Review: Choplifter HD (X360)". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Dutton, Fred (March 28, 2011). "Choplifter HD announced for PC, PS3". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (November 30, 2011). "Choplifter HD grounded until winter". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Choplifter HD critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Choplifter HD critic reviews (PS3)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Choplifter HD critic reviews (X360)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e Winterhalter, Ryan (January 13, 2012). "Review: Choplifter Appeals to Your Inner-Masochist". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Evans, Sean (January 13, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (X360)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Dyer, Mitch (January 9, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Dyer, Mitch (January 10, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (PS3, X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Lewis, Cameron (February 2012). "Choplifter HD review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. p. 76. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Choplifter HD". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. April 2012. p. 79.
  17. ^ "Review: Choplifter HD". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 56. Future plc. March 2012. p. 85.
  18. ^ Frederiksen, Anders (January 16, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Sciarrino, John (January 13, 2012). "Gaming Review: Choplifter HD". Maxim. Biglari Holdings. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  20. ^ Jenkins, David (January 13, 2012). "Choplifter HD review – get to da choppa (X360)". Metro. DMG Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
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